Phillylacrosse.com wishes to extend condolences to the family of Marvin Spiro, 91, of Elkins Park, who recently passed away following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Spiro was a production advisor to Lacrosse Media Owner Chris Goldberg when he launched Phillylacrosse.com five years ago. Phillylacrosse.com has grown into a leading regional lacrosse site and this year went over 3 million page hits while reaching 10,000 posted articles overall.

“Marvin was the one who showed me how to create a website using a basic software platform,” said Goldberg. “For a year I had the idea of creating Phillylacrosse.com, but Marvin was the one who really got me pointed in the right direction.

“I recall going home after our meeting and purchasing the domain. With his help and support, I was able to build the site from scratch. I would frequently call him up and ask him how to do this or that, and he was always so patient. I was a writer, not a webmaster – but I had to learn, and he taught me.”

Mr. Spiro, born in Baltimore, attended Northeast High and Temple University. He was a chemist and served in the Army at the end of World War II as a Battalion Personnel Sergeant. He later was owner of a thriving wall-covering company in Philadelphia, but his greatest passion was computers.

Mr. Spiro was considered one of the first to automate his business using an IBM personal computer in the 1960s. He learned to do his ordering and inventory on the computer and even was hired by IBM due to his expertise.

“I called upon Marvin again three years ago when I re-designed the website and once again he was the perfect mentor,” said Goldberg. “Suffice it to say, without him there would be no Phillylacrosse.com.”

In later years, Mr. Spiro developed and built sophisticated computer networks for his family and friends, well into his late 80s.